Chapter 94: The Path Ahead with Charlotte

“…Huh? What?”

“Confused? Well, can’t blame you—it’s a lot to take in all at once.”

“No, no, no. I mean… I’m not someone that important, you know.”

Getting told something like that out of nowhere—there’s no way I can just nod and say, Oh, okay.

Sure, fine. Maybe that explains why I’ve been dragged into all this.

But still—what the hell? I don’t get it. What’s supposed to be so special about me?

“So, you were born a queen, is that it?”

“Exactly.”

“Not because of some pure lineage, but born unexpectedly… Rare, indeed. Or perhaps that’s precisely why you can be called one of the White Clan.”

Riven looked convinced. And Reynard… he seemed lost in thought.

Wait a second. Didn’t they just say earlier that the White Clan isn’t even the same as humans?

“Wha—like, what are you saying? As if I’m not even human…?”

I cut in, half-joking—but the two of them went silent.

“…Huh?”

“As you’ve seen, the White Clan leaves behind their core when they die, then vanish completely. To call that ‘human’… feels wrong to me.”

“It depends on how you define human. There are records of them having children with people, so it’s not like they’re completely incompatible.”

“Wait, wait, wait!”

What kind of face am I supposed to make right now?

You can’t just suddenly tell me I’m not human and expect me to calmly say Oh, okay. I’m not that put-together. Then again… maybe I’m not even human.

I don’t get it anymore. My head’s a mess.

“You don’t need to overthink it.”

“—Reynard.”

“You’re you, Charlotte. Isn’t that what really matters?”

Reynard spoke in his usual easy tone, as if my confusion was nothing more than a trivial fuss. As if to laugh off my overthinking.

“That’s right. That hasn’t changed.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t still be here, right?”

“Riven, Trishel…”

“See? Don’t get the wrong idea. We’re on your side—not humanity’s side, but Charlotte’s side.”

Watching the three of them nod in agreement, something inside me settled.

I see. So even if I’m not human, that doesn’t change who I am.

I can just stay the way I’ve always been. Yeah… that’s fine.

“You’re making this more complicated than it is.”

“Exactly. Besides, the Black Clan, who’ve sworn to wipe out the White Clan, are sitting right here too, y’know.”

“Hey, you! Was that really necessary to say now?!”

“Uh—w-wait, what?”

Hold on. Really? So Riven’s clan… are my enemies?

Ah, come to think of it, Salem always treated Riven like the enemy… So that’s what it was? Trishel too—she was ridiculously harsh toward Riven at first.

Wait, does that mean I’m gonna get killed?

“Don’t be afraid! If I meant to kill you, I would’ve done it long ago!”

“Oh—true enough.”

“Trishel… That was a bit cruel, even as a joke.”

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry!”

Wait—hold on. So Riven already knew about me way before all this?

Then… what? I was the only one who didn’t know? Well, Reynard too, maybe.

Yeah, judging by his glance, he seemed just as out of the loop.

“Anyway, here’s what really matters—two things. Charlotte, you’re an irreplaceable existence for the White Clan. Absolutely essential.”

Trishel raised two fingers as she explained, as if nothing unusual had just been said.

But honestly, just hearing that makes me want to go home already.

Too much information. Way too heavy. My brain feels like it’s going to burst.

“So? What exactly is the connection between the White Clan and the dungeons?”

That was Riven, steering the conversation elsewhere.

Maybe he noticed me clutching my stomach from stress and decided to be considerate.

“You’ve probably already guessed, haven’t you, Riven?”

“From circumstantial evidence, yes—I can form a hypothesis. But hearing it directly from someone involved is another matter.”

“Fair enough.”

…Hey, hey. Don’t just have some knowing conversation among yourselves like I’m not here.

When you’re suddenly cut out of the center of the discussion like that, the temperature gap alone is enough to give me a cold.

“Reynard, are you ready for this? It’s going to involve the secrets of the dungeons…”

“If knowing that means I don’t have to abandon my companions, then there’s only one answer I could give.”

Reynard replied with an exasperated air. This guy never wavers, does he?

Even Trishel couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“…To put it simply, the dungeons are sanctuaries created by the White Clan when they were being hunted by the Black Clan. Their final refuge.”

“So that’s why there’s never been a confirmed report of anyone completely conquering one?”

“Exactly. The Alliance has been colluding with the White Clan. Everything’s been… managed.”

…Wait. Did I just stumble into hearing something really dark?

No, hold on—there are a few things that come to mind. But still… seriously?

“The ‘Alliance’ name itself came from when it was first formed to protect the White Clan from the Black Clan. They’ve just been reusing it ever since.”

“Hm. No wonder I’m not exactly welcome in this town.”

“Rosalind seemed like she knew, but Riven—you didn’t?”

"I'm just a low-ranking member without even a granted power. Compared to that other one, who’s considered a candidate for the next king, it’s… hardly a fair comparison."

They said it so casually, but to me, it felt like earth-shattering information.

I glanced at Reynard. He gave me a wry smile, though a bead of sweat betrayed him.

We’re not about to be silenced just for overhearing this… right? Surely not?

"Then the existence of this town makes sense. Born to protect the White Clan, while outwardly disguised for everyone else."

"Bingo. As long as there are unaware citizens around, even the Black Clan needs a proper pretext before launching an invasion."

So basically, everything traces back to the White Clan and the Black Clan?

The White Clan created the dungeons because of the Black Clan. This town was built to defend against them. …So the Black Clan’s just the villains here!

Riven seemed lost in thought. Was he reflecting on what his own clan had done?

"…Even I know the White Clan must be exterminated. Which means there had to be a reason for it."

"Unfortunately, I don’t know that part. Just that the two clans clashed, and things ended up like this."

The cause was lost. Only the conflict remained.

It sounded like the kind of story you hear about wars—how the first spark is something small, but before anyone realizes, it has consumed everything.

If that’s the case here too, then—

"…This alone doesn’t tell us how to move forward. As long as we stay in this town, she’ll be targeted, won’t she?"

Riven’s gaze landed squarely on me.

Trishel forced a smile, though it was easy to see through.

"‘Targeted’—depending on how you phrase it, yes. She won’t be left alone. This town exists for the White Clan, and the White Clan exists for Charlotte."

"Wh-what?! Then you’re saying that as long as I remain here, the same kind of thing will just keep happening!?"

To prevent another incident like the one with Salem and the others… would I have to leave this town?

If that’s the case… that would cause all kinds of problems.

Hearing my protest, Trishel folded her arms and sank into thought.

There has to be something. Some other way.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t really have a good idea."

"But—"

"But… I might be able to suggest a way to find the answer."

A way to find the answer? Is that… a way to make sure this never happens again?

Our eyes met. She nodded, confirming my thought.

Then tell me. What is it?

"However, this method carries extreme risks. I can’t say what will happen."

"Even so… there’s no other option, is there? Even if we quietly left the town, I can’t imagine abandoning a presence like this."

"I wouldn’t deny that either."

So leaving the town behind isn’t enough!?

Then what exactly is the method Trishel means?

I can’t think of any way more certain than leaving…

"Let me say it again. Are you prepared? There’s a chance they won’t interfere anymore. But there’s also a chance they will. To eliminate that possibility, I believe there’s only one path."

"Persistent, aren’t you?"

Riven spat the words dismissively.

It wasn’t irritation, exactly. If anything, there was warmth in it.

"In the end, we have no choice but to act. Then there’s no need for a long preamble to steel our hearts. Tell us. What exactly must we do?"

Trishel nodded quietly.

I nodded as well. Make up my mind. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure this never happens again.

That is what I must do.

"We have no choice but to go to the town. To the depths of the dungeon—where the White Clan resides."